Adolescent Peers and Anti-Smoking Activities

In this paper, we aim to evaluate and discuss the details of a five days’ peer education training program, including creative drama techniques, which was then used to carry out anti-smoking activities among a group of 10^th grade adolescents at a high school in Ankara, Turkey. Participatory methods/approaches were used during the training of the peers. Interactive (icebreakers, feedback of the peers about each day of the training, role play, brain storming discussions, case studies, video recording, etc) and creative drama techniques were the two major training methods used during the process. Although the smoking prevalence in the study school did not significantly decrease after the intervention, this method contributed to increasing students’ awareness of anti-smoking issues. Change in the knowledge and attitudes of the students in the study school were significantly different from the change in the control school. This study was also an opportunity for the peer leaders to be part of an enjoyable educational activity. The findings of the study suggest that peer counselors, well trained, and with on-going supervision, can have a positive effect on “knowledge” and “attitudes” about smoking among their friends. Changing behaviors may require a longer time. Peer counseling programs in which the intervention component lasts at least 6 months are recommended to be carried out among similar groups.